As the year ends, conversations quickly turn to goals. New plans. New habits. New versions of ourselves. Before you rush into writing lists and setting intentions, let me invite you to pause just for a moment.
Before asking “What do I want to achieve next year?” Ask instead: “What did this year teach me about myself?”
Growth that isn’t reflected on often gets repeated, and sometimes, that repetition is what keeps us stuck.
There have been seasons in my own life where I set ambitious goals, only to realise later that I was chasing outcomes without listening to what my soul actually needed. I was busy striving, but not always aligned.
This time of year has taught me the power of honest self-inquiry. Not the kind that shames you, but the type that clarifies.
Ask yourself gently:
- Where did I feel most like myself this year?
- Where did I feel drained, disconnected, or overwhelmed?
- What boundaries did I ignore, and what did that cost me?
- What did I survive that I no longer give myself credit for?
These questions aren’t meant to slow you down. They are intended to steady you. Sometimes we don’t need a new goal; we need a new way of relating to ourselves.
You don’t have to enter the new year proving your worth. You already carry it. What you need is alignment between your values, your energy, and your choices.
As you prepare for what’s next, remember this: You are not behind. You are not late. You are not lacking. You are learning, and when learning leads the way, growth becomes sustainable, peaceful, and deeply rooted.
So before the new year begins, give yourself this gift: reflection without judgment, honesty without fear, and hope without pressure.
The next chapter doesn’t need a perfect plan. It requires a grounded, self-aware, present you, and that is more than enough to begin again.